Camera

ABSTRACT

A camera which uses a film cartridge equipped with an indicating section for indicating an exposed state of a film housed within the film cartridge comprises a film compartment for accommodating the film cartridge, a cover member for closing the film compartment, and an ejector formed within the film compartment. The ejector blocks the mounting of the film cartridge in readiness for photographing when the exposure-state indicating section takes a development-completed condition indicating position, a completely exposed condition indicating position or a partially exposed condition indicating position, while allowing the film cartridge to be mounted therein for photographing when it takes a non-exposed condition indicating position. In addition, the ejector pushes the film cartridge out of the film compartment when the cover member is opened after a completion of photography. The ejector can be provided with a member which prevents a film cartridge from inadvertently dropping out the camera during unloading thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to acamera using a film cartridge equipped with a means for indicating anexposed state of a film.

2. Related Art Statement

A photographic film is generally handled in a state of being housedwithin a film cartridge which is a simple cartridge with a lightscreening or shielding function for the purpose of its protectionagainst exposure in mounting and removing in and from a camera or duringstorage and conveyance. In addition, the decision on whether a film isin a non-exposed condition or in an exposure-completed condition is madeby checking whether or not a tip portion of the film is drawn out from afilm-drawing opening of the film cartridge.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,423,943, 4,998,123, and 5,296,887 disclose a new typeof cartridge different from the prior types, where a film is completelyor entirely accommodated therein regardless of being in a non-exposedcondition, a partially exposed condition or an exposure-completedcondition. In this instance, the film-mounting into a camera isautomatically made in such a manner that a fork and a spool gearedtherewith are rotatively driven with a motor, with the result that thecarelessness of the user can cause double exposure to the film.

On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,828 or Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. 6-301106 has proposed an approach to eliminate thisproblem, where a camera is provided with a sensor means cooperating withan exposure-state indicating device so that the insertion of the filmcartridge into a film compartment (cartridge compartment) is inhibitedwhen the exposure-state indicating device assumes an exposure-completedcondition. In addition, as exemplified by Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. 4-90530, there has been proposed an ejecting means whichpushes out a film cartridge by a biasing means such as a spring inresponse to a film cartridge ejecting operation.

There is a problem which arises with the provision of this sensor means,however, in that a side wall of the film cartridge suffers damages andthe mounting of the film cartridge requires a larger force due to theresulting occurrence of a friction between the sensor means and the filmcartridge, for that the sensor means is generally biased by a spring toprotrude into the film compartment and made to retreat from thecartridge sitting position and then to come into contact with a sidewall of the film cartridge when a non-exposed film cartridge is mountedtherein. In addition, when the film cartridge is taken out from the filmcompartment after the completion of photography, difficulty isexperienced to easily remove the film cartridge from the filmcompartment due to the frictional force taking place between the sensormeans and the film cartridge.

What is worse, in the case of the apparatus disclosed by the aforesaidJapanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-301106, if the filmcartridge once mounted therein is taken out halfway after thephotography completion and then again mounted immediately before itsinsertion-inhibiting function begins to work, the camera operatesnormally to result in double exposure.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide acamera which is capable of permitting the mounting of a film cartridgein accordance with an exposed state of a film and further of allowingthe film cartridge to be surely taken out therefrom after the completionof photography.

A second object of this invention is to provide a camera which caninitially push out a film cartridge up to a certain position for itsremoval and then hold it at the position for prevention frominadvertently dropping out of the camera.

In accordance with the present invention, in a camera using a filmcartridge accommodating a film and having the foregoing exposure-stateindicating section, there are basically included a film compartment foraccommodating the film cartridge, a cover member for closing the filmcompartment, and an ejector formed within the film compartment forblocking the insertion of the film cartridge when the exposure-stateindicating section takes a development-finish condition indicatingposition, an exposure-completed condition indicating position or apartially exposed condition indicating position while allowing themounting of the film cartridge in the film compartment when theexposure-state indicating section is at a non-exposed conditionindicating position, and further for pushing the film cartridge out ofthe film compartment in response to the opening of the cover memberafter the completion of photography.

These as well as others objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become further apparent from the following detailed explanation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a principal portion of a filmcompartment of a camera according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention and illustrating a film cartridge for use in the camera;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a principal portion of a mechanismshown in FIG. 1, showing the positional relationship among a leversection, an engaging section and a leaf spring of a film exposure-statesensing and cartridge ejecting device in a non-mounted condition of afilm cartridge in a camera according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a main portion of a mechanism inFIG. 1, showing the positional relationship among the lever section,engaging section and leaf spring of the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device in the mounted condition of the film cartridgein the camera according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a main portion of a mechanism shownin FIG. 1, showing the film exposure-state sensing and cartridgeejecting device and its associated parts when mounted in a filmcartridge accepting a film which is in a completely exposed condition ora partially exposed condition, in the camera according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a main portion of a mechanism shownin FIG. 1, showing the film exposure-state sensing and cartridgeejecting device and its associated parts when mounted in the filmcartridge accommodating a film which is in the non-exposed condition, inthe camera according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a main portion of a mechanism shownin FIG. 1, showing the film exposure-state sensing and cartridgeejecting device and its associated parts when mounted in the filmcartridge accommodating a film which is in the non-exposed condition, inthe camera according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a main portion of a mechanism shownin FIG. 1, showing the film exposure-state sensing and cartridgeejecting device and its associated parts when mounted in the filmcartridge accommodating a film which is in the non-exposed condition, inthe camera according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a principal portion of a filmcompartment of a camera according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention and further showing a film cartridge for use in the camera;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a principal portion of a mechanismshown in FIG. 8, showing the positional relationship among a leversection, an engaging section and a stopping section of a filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device in a non-mountedcondition of a film cartridge in a camera according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a principal portion of a mechanismshown in FIG. 8, showing the positional relationship among the leversection, the engaging section and the stopping section of a filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device in a mountedcondition of a film cartridge in a camera according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state in which a film cartridge, whichis in a condition other than a non-exposed condition, is being mountedin a film compartment in a camera according to a third embodiment ofthis invention;

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state in which a film cartridge, whichis in a condition other than a non-exposed condition, is being mountedin the film compartment in the camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state in which a film cartridge, whichis in a condition other than a non-exposed condition, is being mountedin the film compartment in the camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state in which a film cartridge, whichis in a condition other than a non-exposed condition, has been mountedin the film compartment in the camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state in which a film cartridge, whichis in a non-exposed condition, is being mounted in the film compartmentin the camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a non-exposed condition, is being mounted in the film compartment inthe camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a non-exposed condition, is being mounted in the film compartment inthe camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a non-exposed condition, has been mounted in the film compartment inthe camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state at the time of a film cartridge,which is in a non-exposed condition, being taken out from the filmcompartment in the camera according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a non-exposed condition, is still being put in the film compartmentin a camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a condition other than a non-exposed condition, is still being placedin the film compartment in the camera according to the fourthembodiment;

FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a condition other than a non-exposed condition, is still being set inthe film compartment in a camera according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a condition other than a non-exposed condition, has been set in thefilm compartment in the camera according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state where a film cartridge, which isin a non-exposed condition, is still being inserted into the filmcompartment in a camera according to the fifth embodiment; and

FIG. 25 is a side cross-sectional view of a principal portion of a filmcompartment mechanism, showing a state at the time of a film cartridge,which is in a condition other than a non-exposed condition, beingremoved from the film compartment in the camera according to the fifthembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will be made hereinbelow about embodiments of the presentinvention with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a principal portion of a filmcompartment of a camera according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention and illustrating a film cartridge for use in the camera. Inthis illustration, the film compartment and the film cartridge are shownin states of standing upside down for the convenience to thedescription.

In this embodiment, as disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,994,828, 4,998,123and 5,296,887 a film cartridge 11 for use in a camera 21 is providedwith an exposure-state indicating means 30 for showing an exposed stateof a film within the film cartridge 11, which is made to to be movablefrom a non-exposed condition indicating position visibly representingthe fact that the film is in a non-exposed condition to apartially-exposed condition indicating position visibly designating apartially exposed condition of the film, an exposure-completed conditionindicating position visibly denoting a completely exposed condition ofthe film, or a development-completed condition indicating positionvisibly signifying a fully developed condition of the film. Furthermore,a body 3 of the aforesaid camera 21 has a film compartment 5 formed atits one side to accommodate the film cartridge 11. FIG. 1 shows the filmcompartment 5 and parts in the vicinity thereof with a portion of abottom (the upper side of the illustration) of the film compartment 5broken.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a top surface side (the lower side of theillustration) of the film compartment 5 there is formed an openingsection 7 serving as a loading gate for the insertion of the filmcartridge 11. With this structure, the film cartridge 11 is fitted intothe film compartment 5 in its one longitudinal direction, i.e., an arrowdirection of the axial directions (X in the illustration). In addition,the film compartment 5 has a film supply opening engaging with a filmsupply section of the film cartridge 11. A projection 6 is provided toprotrude at a given place of a back side (the front side of theillustration) of the camera body 3, and a proximal or base portion of aleaf spring 15 is fixedly secured onto one side surface of theprojection 6. The leaf spring 15 is provided to extend toward an upperside of the film compartment 5 so that its tip portion comes intocontact with a lever section 1b which will be described in detail later.

Moreover, the film compartment 5 is provided in one side portion of thecamera body 3 as described before, whereas its inner wall surface actsas an insertion guide for the film cartridge 11. Further, supportingsections 3b, 3c are provided in a front face and a rear face of a wallof the camera body 3 at the bottom side (the upper side of theillustration) of the film compartment 5. A bar-like member 1 servingboth as a film exposure-state sensor (detector) and a film ejector hasboth end portions 1a, 1e placed and supported on the supporting sections3b, 3c, respectively. In the illustration, a portion of the bottom sideof the film compartment 5 is broken to expose the aforesaid filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1, thus showingonly lower sides of the holes constituting the supporting sections 3b,3c.

In addition, the end portion 1e of the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device 1 in the rear surface side of the camera body3 extends toward the upper side of the camera body 3 (the lower side ofthe illustration) to thereby form the above-mentioned lever section 1b.The lever section 1b is rotatably supported by the supporting section3c, and its tip portion is brought in contact with the tip portion ofthe leaf spring 15 to be biased counterclockwise in the illustration. Astopping section 10 is formed to protrude toward the rear surface sideof the camera body 3 in the vicinity of the supporting section 3c torestrict the rotation of the lever section 1b undergoing the biasingforce of the leaf spring 15. In addition, the aforesaid filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1 has anintermediate portion bent substantially rectangularly toward theinterior of the film compartment 5 and further a bar-like engagingsection 1c extends from a peak portion of the rectangularly bentintermediate portion.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevational views of principal portions of themechanism, showing the positional relationship among the lever section1b, engaging section 1c and the leaf spring 15. Of these drawings, FIG.2 shows a state when the film cartridge 11 is in a non-mountedcondition, and FIG. 3 illustrates a mounted state of of the filmcartridge 11. In this case, the lever section 1b and the engagingsection 1c takes an integrally constructed condition, whereupon theengaging section 1c rotates within the film compartment 5 in connectionwith the rotation of the lever section 1b. Further, since the rotatablerange of the engaging section 1c depends upon the stopping section 10,the rotatable range of the engaging section 1c also undergoes therestriction, that is, a restriction is made to the protruding amountinto the interior of the film compartment 5.

The aforesaid engaging section 1c is provided to be allowed to come intocontact with the exposure-state indicating means 30 for showing anexposed state of the film within the film cartridge 11 when the filmcartridge 11 is loaded into the film compartment 5. Further, although adetailed description will be taken later, it serves to make anindication on whether or not to permit the insertion of the filmcartridge 11 in accordance with an exposed state of the encased film.The exposure-state indicating means 30, as shown in FIG. 1, is equippedwith a ring-like lip section 12 formed on the top surface of the filmcartridge 11 to extend around the axis X approximately 270 degrees inthe form of a sector and an inclined section 13 formed between both endportions of the ring-like lip portion 12 to have a sector configurationdiverging from the axis X at approximately 90 degrees. The ring-like lipsection 12 defines a groove portion extending around the axis X in acoaxial relation thereto, which engages with the tip portion of theengaging section 1c in accordance with an exposed condition of theencased film as will be described later. The aforesaid inclined section13 forms an inclined surface having a taper-like configuration divergingtoward its outer circumference, which comes into contact with the tipportion of the engaging section 1c in accordance with an exposedcondition of the housed film as will be described later. That is, inmounting the film cartridge 11 into the film compartment 5, the tipportion of the engaging section 1c engages with the groove portion ofthe ring-like lip section 12 (see FIG. 4) when the film housed is in anexposure-completed condition, a partially exposed condition or adevelopment-completed condition, while coming into contact with theinclined surface of the inclined section 13 when being in an non-exposedcondition (see FIG. 5).

Secondly, an operation of the camera thus arranged according to thisembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. First ofall, the description will start with the case that the film cartridge 11is loaded when the film encased therein takes a completely exposedcondition, a partially exposed condition or a completely developedcondition. FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a principal portion ofthe cartridge chamber, showing a state in which the film cartridge 11 ismounted when the film encased therein is in the completely exposedcondition, partially exposed condition or completely developedcondition. In this instance, the aforesaid exposure-state indicatingmeans 30 stands at an exposure-completed condition indicating position,a partially-exposed condition indicating position or adevelopment-completed condition indicating position. In response tomounting such a film cartridge 11 in the film compartment 5 by the user,the aforesaid engaging section 1c tip portion is brought into contactwith the groove portion of the ring-like lip section 12. When furtherinserting the film cartridge 11 from this state (the arrow direction inthe illustration), the tip portion of the engaging section 1c is fittedin the groove portion of the ring-like lip section 12 to press thering-like lip section 12 to the external, i.e., toward an inner wallsurface 16 of the film compartment 5. Although the film cartridge 11 isslightly inserted until its outer circumferential surface comes intocontact with the inner wall surface 16, then the engaging section 1c(the film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1),engaged with the groove portion of the ring-like lip section 12, blocksthe film cartridge 11 and does not allow further insertion thereinto.

Furthermore, a description will be taken hereinbelow of the case thatthe film cartridge 11 is loaded with the film encased therein being in anon-exposed condition. FIGS. 5 to 7 are side elevational views of aprincipal portion of the cartridge chamber mechanism, showing statesthat the film cartridge 11 is mounted when the film enclosed therein isin an non-exposed condition. In this instance, the exposure-stateindicating means 30 assumes an non-exposed condition indicatingposition. When the user inserts into the film compartment 5 the filmcartridge being in such a condition, the tip portion of the engagingsection 1c comes into contact with the inclined surface of the inclinedsection 13 (see FIG. 5). When further inserting the film cartridge 11from this state (the arrow direction in the illustration), the tipportion of the engaging section 1c is pushed upwardly in the arrowdirection in the illustration along the inclined surface of the inclinedsection 13 against the elastic force of the leaf spring 15 (see FIG. 6),and the film cartridge 11 is inserted until the engaging section 1cfinally comes into contact with a housing section 5b formed on a bottomsurface 5a of the film compartment 5 (see FIG. 7). Thereafter, the filmcartridge 11 is fixed by operations such as by closing a filmcompartment cover, not shown, while at this time the biasing force ofthe leaf spring 15 accumulates in the engaging section 1c. If the filmcompartment cover is opened after the completion of photography, thebiasing force of the leaf spring 15 accumulated in the engaging section1c presses the film cartridge 11 toward the exterior of the filmcompartment 5 (in a direction opposite to the arrow direction in FIG.7), thereby pushing the film cartridge 11 out of the film compartment 5.

With the above-described structure, the camera according to thisembodiment can automatically push out the film cartridge after thecompletion of photography concurrently with inhibiting the mounting ofthe film cartridge being in an exposure-completed condition, a partiallyexposed condition or a development-completed condition. In addition, thefilm exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1 is locatedand housed in the bottom portion of the film compartment 5, which canreduce the necessary space for the size reduction of the camera.

A description will be made hereinbelow of a second embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a principalportion of a film compartment of a camera according to the secondembodiment and a film cartridge for use in the camera. In thisillustration, the film compartment and the film cartridge are shown instates of standing upside down for the convenience to the description.Further, parts corresponding to those in the above-described firstembodiment are marked with the same numerals, and the detaileddescription thereof will be omitted in order to avoid a doubleexplanation.

The camera according to this second embodiment basically has aconstruction similar to that of the first embodiment, while thedifferent points therebetween are as follows. That is, in the firstembodiment the lever section 1b formed at one end portion of the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1 receives theelastic force of the leaf spring 15 so that the engaging section 1c ofthe film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1 isbiased to rotate toward the interior of the film compartment 5. On theother hand, in this second embodiment the lever section 1b (1b') itselfis made from an elastic member and further its one end portion 1d isinterposed between supporting sections 10a, 10b provided protrusively atgiven places of the rear side of the camera body 3. Other structures andoperations are the same as those in the aforementioned first embodiment,and hence the description thereof will be omitted for brevity.

In this second embodiment the aforesaid lever section 1b' is supportedby the supporting section 3c to be rotatable within a range dependingupon its elastic force. In addition, although being restricted by thestopping sections 10a, 10b in the movement in the horizontal directionsin the illustration, the end portion 1d is arranged to be slidable upand down (see FIGS. 9 and 10). As well as the above-described firstembodiment, in the second embodiment the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device 1 also has an intermediate portion bentsubstantially rectangularly toward the interior of the film compartment5 and a bar-like engaging section 1c is provided protrusively at a peakportion of the rectangularly formed portion thereof so that its tipportion is able to come into contact with the exposure-state indicatingmeans 30 of the film cartridge 11 inserted.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevational views of a principal portion of thecartridge chamber mechanism, showing the positional relationship amongthe lever section 1b', the engaging section 1c, the end portion 1d andthe stopping sections 10a, 10b. Of these drawings, FIG. 9 shows a statewhen the film cartridge 11 is in a non-mounted condition while FIG. 10illustrates a state at the time of mounting the film cartridge 11. Theengaging section 1c, the lever section 1b' and the end portion 1d areintegrally constructed, and the rotatable range of the engaging section1c in the direction of protruding into the interior of the filmcompartment 5 is restricted due to the relationship between the stoppingsections 10a, 10b and the end portion 1d. In addition, as well as thefirst embodiment, the engaging section 1c can come into contact with theexposure-state indicating means 30 for displaying an exposed conditionof a film within the film cartridge 11 when the film cartridge 11 isloaded in the film compartment 5. Further, it serves to make anindication on whether or not to permit the insertion of the filmcartridge 11 in accordance with an exposed state of the encased film.That is, in mounting the film cartridge 11 in the film compartment 5,the tip portion of the engaging section 1c engages with the grooveportion of the ring-like lip section 12 when the encased film is in anexposure-completed condition or a partially exposed condition (see FIG.4) while coming into contact with the inclined surface of the inclinedsection 13 when it is in a non-exposed condition (see FIG. 5).

Secondly, the operation of the camera thus arranged according to thesecond embodiment will be described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS.9, 10 and 4 to 6. First of all, if the film cartridge 11 is insertedinto the film compartment 5 in a state where the film held within thefilm cartridge 11 is in a completely exposed condition, a partiallyexposed condition or a completely developed condition, in the samemanner as the above-described first embodiment the film cartridge 11undergoes the interference by the engaging section 1c (the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1) engaged with thegroove portion of the ring-like lip section 12, which inhibits furtherinsertion of the film cartridge 11 (see FIG. 4).

Secondly, referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, 9 and 10 a description will be madehereinbelow about the case that the film cartridge 11 is mounted whenthe film encased therein assumes a non-exposed condition. FIGS. 5 to 7are side elevational views of a principal portion, showing states inwhich the film cartridge 11 is loaded when the film enclosed therein isin a non-exposed condition. At this time, the aforesaid exposure-stateindicating means 30 takes the non-exposed condition indicating position.If the user inserts such a film cartridge 111 into the film compartment5, the tip portion of the engaging section 1c is brought into contactwith the inclined surface of the inclined section 13 (see FIG. 5).Responding to further insertion of the film cartridge 11 from this state(the arrow direction in the illustration), the tip portion of theengaging section 1c is pushed upwardly in the arrow direction in theillustration along the inclined surface of the inclined section 13against the elastic force of the end portion 1d (see FIG. 6), with theresult the film cartridge 11 is finally inserted until the engagingsection 1c comes into contact with the housing section 5b formed in thebottom surface 5a of the film compartment 5 (see FIG. 7).

At this time, the proximal portion of the lever section 1b' integrallyconstructed with the engaging section 1c receives the clockwiserotational biasing force about the supporting section 3c. Accompanyingthis, a clockwise elastic deformation takes place at the free endportion of the lever section 1b' as shown in FIG. 10. Simultaneously,the end portion 1d slightly slides vertically between the stoppingsections 10a, 10b.

Thus, the engaging section 1c accepts a biasing force in the directionof protruding toward the interior of the film compartment 5, and whenthe film cartridge 11 gets into a fixed state by the closure of the filmcompartment cover (not shown) or the like after the insertion of thefilm cartridge 11, the aforesaid biasing force accumulates in theengaging section 1c. In response to the closure of the film compartmentcover after the completion of photography, due to the elastic force ofthe lever section 1b' accumulated in the engaging section 1c, the filmcartridge 11 is pressed in the direction of protruding from the filmcompartment 5 (the direction opposite to the arrow direction in FIG. 7),thereby exiting from the film compartment 5.

In addition to the effects of the above-described first embodiment, thecamera according to this second embodiment can omit the leaf spring 15which gives the biasing force to the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device 1, thus resulting in a cheaper camera with amore simplified construction.

Furthermore, a description will be taken hereinbelow of a thirdembodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 11 to 19 are sidecross-sectional views of a principal portion of a cartridge chamber,showing a film compartment and a film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device of a camera according to the third embodimentand further showing a film cartridge to be mounted in the filmcompartment. Of these drawings, FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional viewof a principal portion of the chamber, showing a state in which a filmcartridge taking a condition other than a non-exposed condition isloaded in the film compartment in the camera according to the thirdembodiment. In this illustration, the film cartridge is halfway insertedthereinto.

As illustrated, a film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejectingdevice 1A is provided within a bottom portion (the upper side of theillustration) of a film compartment 5A. This film exposure-state sensingand cartridge ejecting device 1A has a substantially L-shaped armconfiguration, with its proximal end portion being rotatably pivoted bya shaft 1g and, after once being bent to make an L-shaped configuration,its free end portion extending while being again bent at a given angle.Between the tip portion of the arm and a given place of the camera bodythere is provided an elastic member 32 constructed, for example, of atension spring whereby the free end portion of the film exposure-statesensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A is biased downwardly in theillustration, i.e., clockwise about pivot shaft 1g. The location of theelastic member is not limited to the place illustrated if providing thesame operation and effect. In addition, when the film exposure-statesensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A is rotated clockwise, itsportion close to its tip portion comes into contact with one end surface33 of the film compartment 5A to inhibit further rotation thereof.

Moreover, an engaging section 1f extends from the second-mentioned bentportion of the free end portion of the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device 1A toward the interior (downward in theillustration) of the film compartment 5A. At the mounting of the filmcartridge 11A the engaging section 1f is designed to be fitted in aring-like recess or cavity portion 12A made in the top surface of thefilm cartridge 11A. A detailed description thereof will be made later.

The film cartridge 11A, as mentioned above, has the ring-like recessportion 12A coaxially formed around its axis in its top surface. At theoutermost circumferential portion of the ring-like recess section 12Athere is formed a side wall protruding upwardly, a portion of which has,on its top surface, an inclined section 13A inclined and tapered towardits outer circumference. In addition, when the film cartridge 11A ismounted, the tip portion of the engaging section 1f is arranged to comeinto engagement therewith in the vicinity of the inclined section 13A atthe outer circumference of the ring-like recess section 12A. Moreover,on the top surface of the ring-like recess section 12A there is provideda disc 31, serving as an exposure-state indicating means, which isrotatable in connection with a spool, not shown, placed within the filmcartridge 11A. In the disc 31, its circumferential portion partiallyprojects to establish a larger-diameter section, so that thelarger-diameter section is positioned to project at the positionconfronting the inclined section 13A when the film encased therein is ina non-exposed condition (see FIG. 15), whereas the smaller-diametersection appears when being in an exposure-completed condition, apartially exposed condition or a development-completed condition (seeFIG. 11).

Furthermore, referring to FIGS. 11 to 14, a description will be madehereinbelow of an operation performed for when mounted in the filmcompartment 5A is the film cartridge 11A whose film is in theexposure-completed condition, the partially exposed condition or thedevelopment-completed condition.

First, when the film cartridge 11A being in the above-mentionedcondition is inserted into the film compartment 5A (see FIG. 11), asshown in FIG. 12 the tip portion of the engaging section 1f comes intocontact with a side edge portion of the smaller-diameter section of thedisc 31. In response to further insertion of the film cartridge 11A fromthis state, the engaging section 1f is slightly pushed up by the sideedge portion of the disc 31 against the biasing force of the elasticmember 32, with the result that the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device 1A slightly rotates around the shaft 1g. Sincesection constructed to be integral with the film exposure-state sensingand cartridge ejecting device 1A, the engaging section 1f also rotatesaround the shaft 1g. Accordingly, with the insertion of the filmcartridge 11A, the engaging section 1f separates from the side edgeportion of the disc 31 to be fitted in between the side edge portion ofthe disc 31 and the side wall of the ring-like recess portion 12A due tothe biasing force of the elastic member 32 (see FIG. 13). If the furtherinsertion of the film cartridge 11A from this state takes place, theengaging section 1f is further rotated around the shaft 1g to press theside wall of the ring-like recess portion 12A in the arrow direction inthe illustration, i.e., toward the inner wall surface of the filmcompartment 5A (see FIG. 14). Thus, the film cartridge 11A encounters adifficulty of further insertion due to the frictional force occurringwith the inner wall surface thereof.

Moreover, referring to FIGS. 15 to 18 a description will be madehereinbelow of an operation taken for when mounted in the filmcompartment 5A is the film cartridge whose film is in a non-exposedcondition. First, when the film cartridge being in a non-exposedcondition comes in the film compartment 5A (see FIG. 15), as illustratedin FIG. 16 the tip portion of the engaging section 1f comes into contactwith a side edge portion of the larger-diameter section of the disc 31.Simultaneously with further insertion of the film cartridge 11A fromthis state, the engaging section if is slightly pushed up against thebiasing force of the elastic member 32 by means of the side edge portionof the disc 31, whereupon the film exposure-state sensing and cartridgeejecting device 1A rotates around the shaft 1g. Since the engagingsection 1f is constructed so as to be integral with the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A, similarly itrotates around the shaft 1g together with device 1A.

Further insertion of the film cartridge 11A from this state permits theengaging section 1f to separate from the side edge portion of the disc31 and then to slide along the inclined surface of the inclined section13A, and the film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device1A additionally rotates (see FIG. 17). Thereafter, when furtherinsertion of the film cartridge 11A takes place, the the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A rotates untilthe top surface of the film cartridge 11A comes into contact with theL-shaped free end portion thereof, thus resulting in the completion ofmounting of the film cartridge 11A (see FIG. 18). At this time, anelectric contact (not shown), placed in the camera, is switched throughthe film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A so thatthe information representative of the fact that the film cartridge 11Ais completely mounted therein is delivered to a control section, notshown. Moreover, if a cover (not shown) for the film compartment 5A isclosed after the mounting of the film cartridge 11A, as described beforethe information on the mounting of the film cartridge 11A is fed to thecontrol section, whereupon the camera is placed into an operablecondition.

Furthermore, a description will be taken hereinbelow of an operation ofremoving the film cartridge 11A in the third embodiment with referenceto FIG. 19. When the cover for the film compartment 5A is opened afterthe completion of photography, the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device 1A rotates in the direction of projecting thefilm cartridge 11A by the help of the biasing force of the elasticmember 32. At this time, the film cartridge 11A is pressed by theengaging section 1f so that its circumferential surface 11c moves towardthe inner wall surface 5c of the film compartment 5A. Owing to thefrictional force arising with this pressing, the film cartridge 11A isheld in a state slightly protruding from an opening portion of the filmcompartment 5A. Accordingly, even if the camera is turned upside down,the film cartridge 11A can be prevented from dropping out of the camera.The user can take out the film cartridge 11A by picking up its slightlyprotruding tip portion by his fingers or the like.

In addition to the effects of the above-described first embodiment, thecamera according to this third embodiment is capable of safely andsurely taking out the film cartridge concurrent with preventing it frominadvertently dropping out of the camera.

Still further, a description will be made hereinbelow of a fourthembodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 20 to 21 are sidecross-sectional views of a principal portion of a camera cartridgechamber, showing a film compartment and a film exposure-state sensingand cartridge ejecting device in a camera according to the fourthembodiment and further showing a film cartridge to be mounted in thefilm compartment. FIG. 20 is a side cross-sectional view of a principalportion, illustrating a state in which a film cartridge being in anon-exposed condition is loaded in the film compartment in the cameraaccording to the fourth embodiment. In the illustration, the filmcartridge is halfway inserted therein.

As illustrated, the camera according to this fourth embodiment canaccept a film cartridge 11A similar to that of the above-described thirdembodiment, while on the bottom portion of a film compartment 5B isprovided a film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1Asimilar to that of the third embodiment. In addition, as well as thethird embodiment an elastic member 32 is stretched between the tipportion of the aforesaid arm and a certain portion of the camera body sothat the free end portion of the film exposure-state sensing andcartridge ejecting device 1A is biased downwardly in the illustration,i.e., clockwise about shaft 1g.

The film compartment 5B has a hollow cylindrical configuration with twodifferent diameters, with the diameter of a portion extending from asubstantially middle portion to the bottom being smaller than that of anopening portion so that a step 5d exists at the boundary between thelarger-diameter portion and the smaller-diameter portion. Thesmaller-diameter portion is substantially equal in diameter to thediameter of the film cartridge 11A, and in order to hinder the rotationof the film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A, aportion corresponding to the rotational locus of a tip portion 1h of thefilm exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A is cut out.Incidentally, it is also possible that the step between thesmaller-diameter portion and the larger-diameter portion is constructedas a projection protruding inwardly.

Secondly, referring to FIG. 20 a description will be made hereinbelow ofan operation carried out for when the film cartridge 11A including afilm in a non-exposed condition is loaded in the film compartment 5B.According to this fourth embodiment, as well as the above-mentionedthird embodiment, responding to the insertion of the non-exposedcondition film cartridge 11A, the engaging section 1f of the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A separates from aside edge portion of a disc 31 and then slides along an inclined section13A, thereby pressing the film cartridge 11A toward an inner wallsurface 5c thereof (the arrow direction in the illustration). Withfurther insertion from this state, the film cartridge 11A is insertedinto the smaller-diameter portion to be completely mounted in the filmcompartment 5B.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 21 a description will be made hereinbelowof an operation taken for when mounted in the film compartment 5B is thefilm cartridge 11A whose film is in a condition other than thenon-exposed condition, i.e., in an exposure-completed condition, apartially exposed condition or a development-completed condition.According to this fourth embodiment, as well as the third embodiment, inresponse to the insertion of such a film cartridge 11A, the engagingsection 1f of the film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejectingdevice 1A is fitted in between the side edge portion of the disc 31 andan outer wall of a ring-like recess portion 12A to press the filmcartridge 11A in the arrow direction in the illustration. When in thisstate the film cartridge 11A is inserted thereinto, a top surface 11d ofthe film cartridge 11A comes into contact with the aforesaid step 5dwhich, in turn, inhibits further insertion of the film cartridge 11A.This prevents the film cartridge 11A from being mounted therein when thefilm encased assumes a condition other than the non-exposed condition.

In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the camera accordingto this fourth embodiment can reduce the pressure on the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1A even if the filmcartridge 11A is inserted with a strong force, thus preventing damagesto the device 1A.

Moreover, a description will be made hereinbelow of a fifth embodimentof the present invention. FIGS. 22 to 25 are side cross-sectional viewsof a main portion of a camera cartridge chamber, showing a filmcompartment and a film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejectingdevice in a camera according to the fifth embodiment, and furtherillustrating a film cartridge to be mounted in the film compartment.FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view of a main portion of the cameracartridge chamber, showing a state in which the film cartridge whosefilm is in a condition other than an non-exposed condition is loaded inthe film compartment in the camera according to the fifth embodiment. Inthe illustration, the film cartridge is halfway inserted therein.

As illustrated, the camera according to the fifth embodiment canaccommodate a film cartridge 11A similar to those of the third andfourth embodiments, and on a bottom portion of a film compartment 5Cthere is provided a film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejectingdevice 1B which substantially has the same construction as those of thethird and fourth embodiments. In addition, between the tip portion ofthe aforesaid arm and a given portion of the camera body there isstretched an elastic member 32 whereby the free end portion of the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1B is biaseddownwardly in the illustration, i.e., clockwise about shaft 1g. The filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1B is equipped witha holding section 1j extending from the vicinity of the proximal portionof an engaging section 1f in a substantially zigzag fashion. Inaddition, a portion of the wall portion of the film compartment 5Cmeeting the rotational locus of the holding section 1j is cut out.

Secondly, referring to FIG. 23 a description will be taken hereinbelowof an operation for when mounted in the film compartment is the filmcartridge accommodating a film which is in a condition other than anon-exposed condition, i.e., in an exposure-completed condition, apartially exposed condition or a development-finished condition.According to this fifth embodiment, as well as the third embodiment,when the film cartridge 11A being in such a condition is insertedthereinto, the engaging section 1f of the film exposure-state sensingand cartridge ejecting device 1B is fitted in between a side edgeportion of a disc 31 and an outer wall of a ring-like recess portion 12Ato press the film cartridge 11A in the arrow direction in theillustration. In further inserting the film cartridge 11A from thisstate, like the third embodiment, the further insertion thereof isblocked due to the frictional force between the circumferential surfaceof the film cartridge 11A and the inner wall surface of the filmcompartment 5C.

Moreover, a description will be taken hereinbelow of an operation forwhen the film cartridge 11A containing a film in a non-exposed conditionis loaded in the film compartment 5C. According to this fifthembodiment, like the third embodiment, when a film cartridge 11A in anon-exposed condition is inserted into the film compartment 5C, the tipportion of the engaging section 1f comes into contact with a side edgeportion of a larger-diameter section of a disc 31. When the filmcartridge 11A is further inserted from this state, the engaging section1f is slightly pushed up against the biasing force of the elastic member32 by the side edge portion of the disc 31, whereupon the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1B rotates around ashaft 1g. Further, simultaneously with further insertion of the filmcartridge 11A from this state, the engaging section 1f separates fromthe side edge portion of the disc 31 and then slides along the inclinedsurface of the inclined section 13A, with the result that the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1B additionallyrotates until the top surface of the film cartridge 11A comes intocontact with the L-shaped bent free end portion of the filmexposure-state sensing and cartridge ejecting device 1B, thus completingthe mounting thereof.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 25 a description will be made hereinbelowof an operation for when the film cartridge 11A is taken out from thefilm compartment 5C, in the camera according to the fifth embodiment. Ifa cover for the film compartment 5C is opened after the termination ofphotography, the film exposure-state sensing and cartridge ejectingdevice 1B rotates in the direction of projecting the film cartridge 11Aby means of the biasing force of the elastic member 32. Subsequently,the holding section 1j of the film exposure-state sensing and cartridgeejecting device 1B presses the film cartridge 11A against the inner wallsurface 5c which is in opposed relation thereto, whereupon the filmcartridge 11A is held in a state of slightly projecting from the openingportion of the film compartment 5C. Accordingly, even if the camera isturned upside down, like the third embodiment the film cartridge 11A canbe prevented from inadvertently dropping out of the camera. The user cantake out the film cartridge 11A by picking up its slightly projected tipportion by his fingers or the like.

In this fifth embodiment, after the termination of photography, the filmcartridge 11A can be held irrespective of variation or no variation ofthe state of the disc 31. In addition to the effects of theabove-described first embodiment, the camera according to the fifthembodiment is capable of more surely and safely removing the filmcartridge 11A concurrent with preventing it from inadvertently droppingout of the camera.

Although in the above-mentioned respective embedments the mounting ofthe film cartridge is inhibited when the film housed therein is in anexposure-completed condition, a partially exposed condition and adevelopment-finished condition, it is also appropriate that the filmcartridge is blocked when the film encased is in an exposure-completedcondition or a development-finished condition.

As described above, according to the aforesaid embodiments it ispossible to provide a camera where the mounting of the film cartridge isallowed to be mounted in accordance with the exposed condition of thefilm and can certainly be taken out after the completion of photography.In addition, it is possible to provide a camera which can prevent thefilm cartridge from dropping at the ejection

In this invention, it is apparent that working modes different in a widerange can be formed on this basis invention without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. This invention is not restricted byany specific embodiment except may be limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera using a film cartridge equipped withindicating means for indicating an exposed state of a film housed withinsaid film cartridge, said indicating means being movable from anon-exposed condition indicating position for indicating that said filmis in a non-exposed condition to a partially exposed conditionindicating position for indicating that said film is in a partiallyexposed condition or in a completely exposed condition indicatingposition for indicating that said film is in a completely exposedcondition, said camera comprising:a film compartment for accommodatingsaid film cartridge so that said film cartridge is mounted therein, saidfilm compartment having an open end; a cover member for closing the openend of said film compartment; and ejecting means pivotally mounted at afixed location in said camera adjacent a bottom of said film compartmentopposite said open end and forcing said film cartridge against asidewall in said film compartment for blocking mounting of said filmcartridge to a properly mounted position next to the bottom of the filmcompartment when said exposure-state indicating means takes saidcompletely exposed condition indicating position, and for allowing saidfilm cartridge to be mounted to the properly mounted position when thefilm cartridge is in one of said non-exposed condition indicatingposition and said partially exposed condition indicating positionwhereby said ejecting means is prevented from forcing said filmcartridge against said sidewall, and further for pushing said filmcartridge out of said film compartment when said film cartridge is inthe properly mounted position and said cover member is opened aftercompletion of photography.
 2. A camera using a film cartridge equippedwith indicating means for indicating an exposed state of a film housedwithin said film cartridge, said indicating means being movable from anon-exposed condition indicating position for indicating that said filmis in an non-exposed condition to a partially exposed conditionindicating position for indicating that said film is in a partiallyexposed condition or in a completely exposed condition indicatingposition for indicating that said film is in a completely exposedcondition, said camera comprising:a film compartment for accommodatingsaid film cartridge so that said film cartridge is mounted therein, saidfilm compartment having an open end; a cover member for closing the openend of said film compartment; and ejecting means swingably mounted at afixed location in said camera adjacent a bottom of said film compartmentand forcing said film cartridge against sidewall in said filmcompartment for blocking mounting of said film cartridge to a properlymounted position next to a bottom of the film compartment when saidexposure-state indicating means takes one of said completely exposedcondition indicating position and said partially exposed conditionindicating position, and for allowing said film cartridge to be mountedto the properly mounted position when the film cartridge is in saidnon-exposed condition indicating position whereby said indicating meansprevents said ejecting means from forcing said film cartridge againstsaid sidewall, and further for pushing said film cartridge out of saidfilm compartment when said film cartridge is in the properly mountedposition and said cover member is opened after completion ofphotography.
 3. A camera as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein saidejecting means is located at said bottom of said film compartment.
 4. Acamera as defined in claim 1, wherein, when said exposure-stateindicating means is at said completely exposed condition indicatingposition before said film cartridge is mounted in said film compartment,said ejecting means engages a ring-like lip portion formed on said filmcartridge and cooperates with said sidewall which comprises a filmcartridge mounting guide wall formed within said film compartment toinhibit insertion of said film cartridge into the proper position insaid film compartment.
 5. A camera as defined in claim 2, wherein, whensaid exposure-state indicating means takes one of said completelyexposed condition indicating position and said partially exposedcondition indicating position before said film cartridge is mounted insaid film compartment, said ejecting means engages a ring-like lipportion formed on said film cartridge and, together with said sidewall,which comprises a film cartridge mounting guide wall formed within saidfilm compartment, inhibits insertion of said film cartridge into saidfilm compartment.
 6. A camera as defined in claim 4 or 5, wherein saidejecting means is biased to normally move toward an interior of saidfilm compartment and is equipped with an exposure-state sensing sectionfor engaging said exposure-state indicating means.
 7. A camera asdefined in claim 6, wherein said exposure-state sensing section of saidejecting means comprises a bar-like end portion.
 8. A camera using afilm cartridge equipped with indicating means for indicating an exposedstate of a film housed within said film cartridge, said indicating meansbeing movable from a non-exposed condition indicating position forindicating that said film is in a non-exposed condition to a partiallyexposed condition indicating position for indicating that said film isin a partially exposed condition, in a development-completed conditionindicating position for indicating that said film is in adevelopment-completed condition or in a completely exposed conditionindicating position for indicating that said film is in a completelyexposed condition, said camera comprising:a film compartment foraccommodating said film cartridge so that said film cartridge is mountedtherein, said film compartment having an open end; a cover member forclosing the open end of said film compartment; and ejecting meansmounted to pivot at a fixed point on said camera adjacent a bottom ofsaid film compartment and forcing the film cartridge against a sidewallin the film compartment for blocking mounting of said film cartridge toa proper mounting position next to a bottom of the film compartment whensaid exposure-state indicating means takes one of saiddevelopment-completed condition indicating position and said completelyexposed condition indicating position, and for allowing said filmcartridge to be mounted therein at said proper mounting position whensaid indicating means takes one of said non-exposed condition indicatingposition and said partially exposed condition indicating positionwhereby said indicating means is prevented from forcing the filmcartridge against said sidewall, and further for pushing said filmcartridge out of said film compartment to the properly mounted positionwhen said cover member is opened after completion of photography.
 9. Acamera using a film cartridge equipped with indicating means forindicating an exposed state of a film housed within said film cartridge,said indicating means being movable from a non-exposed conditionindicating position for indicating that said film is in a non-exposedcondition to a partially exposed condition indicating position forindicating that said film is in a partially exposed condition, in adevelopment-completed condition indicating position for indicating thatsaid film is in a development-completed condition or in a completelyexposed condition indicating position for indicating that said film isin a completely exposed condition, said camera comprising:a filmcompartment for accommodating said film cartridge so that said filmcartridge is mounted therein, said film compartment having an open end;a cover member for closing the open end of said film compartment; andejecting means mounted to pivot at a fixed location in said cameraadjacent a bottom of said film compartment and urging said filmcartridge against a sidewall in said film compartment for blockingmounting of said film cartridge to a proper mounting position next to abottom of the film compartment when said exposure-state indicating meanstakes one of said development-completed condition indicating positionand said completely exposed condition indicating position, and forallowing said film cartridge to be mounted therein at said propermounting position when said indicating means takes one of saidnon-exposed condition indicating position and said partially exposedcondition indicating position whereby said ejecting means is preventedfrom urging said film cartridge against said sidewall, and further forpushing said film cartridge out of said film compartment to the properlymounted position when said cover member is opened after completion ofphotography.
 10. A camera as defined in claim 9, wherein said ejectingmeans is constructed integrally with holding means which holds said filmcartridge to prevent the cartridge from jumping out of said filmcompartment when being pushed out by said ejecting means.
 11. A cameraas defined in claim 10, wherein said ejecting means stops said filmcartridge, said exposure-state indicating means of which is at saidnon-exposed condition indicating position, when said film cartridge isfurther inserted into said film compartment from a position at whichsaid holding means holds said film cartridge.
 12. A camera as defined inclaim 10, further comprising means for switching an electrical contactin response to movement of said ejecting means.
 13. A camera as definedin claim 10, wherein said holding means is equipped with an engagingsection for holding an outer wall of said film cartridge together withan inner wall of said film compartment.
 14. A camera as defined in claim9, wherein said ejecting means is rotatably mounted.
 15. A camera asdefined in claim 10, wherein said holding means is rotatably mounted.16. A camera as defined in claim 9 or 10, further comprising means fordetecting a state in which mounting of said film cartridge whoseexposure-state indicating means is at a position other than anon-exposed condition indicating position is blocked and a state inwhich mounting thereof is allowed, when said film cartridge is mountedin said film compartment.
 17. A camera as defined in claim 9 or 10,further comprising a projection for blocking mounting of said filmcartridge when said indicating means is at said condition other thansaid non-exposed condition indicating position.
 18. A camera accordingto claim 1 or 2 wherein said ejecting means further comprises projectionfor blocking entry of a fully exposed film cartridge to a properlymounted position and for pushing a properly mounted film cartridge outof the film compartment when said cover member is opened.
 19. A cameraaccording to claim 1 or 2 wherein said ejecting means has a projectionwhich engages an interior of an annular lip portion on a film cartridgebeing loaded when said film cartridge is in the exposed condition, toblock said film cartridge from being properly mounted.
 20. A cameraaccording to claim 1, 2, 8 or 9 wherein said ejecting means has aprojection which is pushed into a recess provided near a bottom end ofthe film cartridge to enable the film cartridge which is in an unexposedcondition to be loaded in the film compartment.
 21. A camera accordingto claim 1, 2, 8 or 9 wherein said ejecting means has a projection whichenters into a recess in a movable annular lip at an end of a filmcartridge which is in the exposed state to prevent the projection fromentering a recess near a bottom of the film compartment.
 22. A cameraaccording to claim 21 wherein said projection engages said annular lipwhich is moved to a projection blocking position when the film cartridgeis in the exposed state to prevent the film cartridge from beingproperly mounted in the film compartment.
 23. A camera according toclaims 1, 2, 8 or 9 wherein said ejecting means includes a projectionswingable about a pivot arranged near a bottom end of the filmcompartment,said film compartment having a recess for receiving a freeend of said projection when the projection is pushed by a film cartridgebeing mounted to a position adjacent to said bottom end, said projectionbeing prevented from entering said recess by a movable annular lip onsaid film cartridge when said film cartridge is in a fully exposedcondition.
 24. A camera according to claim 1 wherein said ejecting meansoperates without need for an electrically powered motor.
 25. A cameraaccording to claim 1 wherein said ejecting means has a pivot portionextending across said bottom and into first and second openings alongthe sidewalls of the film compartment.